McDermott said Taylor suffered the injury on the Bills' first offensive play of the game when the quarterback was sacked by Patriots linebacker David Harris as he was scrambling toward the sideline. Taylor was briefly evaluated by the training staff in the medical tent after that series but remained in the game.

"He was in pain," Bills running back LeSean McCoy told reporters after the game. "You could see it on his face, the expressions he was making. It shows you a true warrior."

Said McDermott: "We talked about [taking Taylor] out. [Taylor] said he could continue at the time. Up until he couldn't, that's what we did."

Taylor finally came off the field following a third-down incompletion in the fourth quarter and was carted off during the Patriots' ensuing offensive series.

He would only nod "yes" when asked by The Associated Press if he were all right while limping heavily on his left knee as he boarded a cart and was driven out of the stadium.

Taylor was replaced by rookie Nathan Peterman with about 13 minutes remaining. Peterman completed six of 15 passes for 50 yards.

Before leaving the game, Taylor completed nine of 18 passes for 65 yards with one interception.

The Bills benched Taylor before their Nov. 19 game against the Los Angeles Chargers in favor of Peterman, a fifth-round pick. Peterman threw five interceptions in the first half against the Chargers before being replaced by Taylor, who started last Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.